Buhari, Osinbajo, others earned N3.4bn as salaries in 2017 —SGF

President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, ministers and other political appointees received salaries amounting to N3.4 billion in 2017.

This was contained in the document the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, presented in Abuja on Tuesday to the House of Representatives’ Committee on Governmental Affairs chaired by Mr. Husseini Suleiman-Kanagiwa.

The SGF had appeared before the committee to review the 2017 budget of his office and defend the estimates for 2018.

“The approved personnel cost for 2017 was N3,408,763,591.00. This covered the remuneration of the President, Vice-President, ministers, political office holders and members of staff of the OSGF from January to December, 2017,” the document read in part.

The SGF’s office had a total budgetary allocation of N9.5 billion in 2017.

The document further disclosed the Federal Government’s decision to make cash payment of N280.1 million to former presidents and heads of states.

Government approved the money in 2017 for the purchased of cars for the former leaders, but decided instead to pay them the money in cash to enable them buy vehicles of their choices.

The beneficiaries are Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.), Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.); and Chief Ernest Shonekan.

Already, N40 million of the amount had already been released, with final expected releases of N240.1 million, after which the money would be paid to the former leaders.

The Federal Government also approved cars worth N120 million to be purchased for former vice-presidents in 2017.

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The former Vice-Presidents include Abubakar Atiku, Mr. Sambo Dasuki, the late Alex Ekwueme and all former chiefs of general staff.

The document also revealed that the purchased of the vehicles for the former VPs is “ongoing,” adding that all the arrangements would be concluded before May 2018, when the 2017 budget will cease to be in operation.

Meanwhile, for 2018, a proposal of another N96 million is made for the procurement of vehicles for the former presidents, while in the case of former VPs, it is N90 million.

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